In late May, just days after heritage sites had reopened to the public, we worked to the

upsetting news that the Rosary Beads that Mary Queen of Scots carried with her to her execution

in 1587 had been stolen from Arndell Castle. There are few items that could claim such an

emotional and historical importance in the life of this queen. The story of Mary Queen of Scots

played out as it did because of her devotion to her Catholic faith, as we shall see. And it felt

doubly wounding that this heartless theft had been carried out after a year in which historic

houses like Arndell, which preserved the memory of the past for the nation, have suffered such

financial loss and hardship. We can't write that wrong here on not just the tutors, but we can

at least restore some measure of justice to the universe by giving our attention today to Mary

Stuart, a woman who became Queen of Scots at six days old, Queen of France at sixteen years old,

and who for her claim to the English throne was executed before she reached forty-six years old.

Professor Kate Williams is Professor of Public Engagement with History at the University of

Reading. She's an established TV presenter, a royal commentator for CNN, and a frequent judge

of literary prizes, including the Women's Price Refiction. Kate is also one of the most prolific

historians, I know. She's written ten books, including England's Mistress, a wonderful

biography of Emma Hamilton, and rival Queens, which examines the lives of both Elizabeth I and

Mary Queen of Scots. And that's what we'll be talking about today. She and I also shared the role

of resident historian on a comedy panel show for BBC Two Called In Certain Name here, and people

often mistake us, but today we will prove that we are two people and not just one. Mary Queen of

Scots always seems to me to have had the life of a romantic heroine, maybe a tragic romantic heroine

all gone wrong, given that she becomes queen at such a young age, and her story has so many twists and

turns. But I guess we should start at the beginning. Let's start with her family, who were her parents,

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